MSC: 1,220 Tons of Debris Collected in MSC Zoe Cleanup Operation

Swiss-based Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) said that significant progress has been made in the clean-up operation of the debris originating from containers that fell from MSC Zoe on January 2 during heavy weather.

In total 1,220 metric tons of debris have been collected on
the German and Dutch beaches since the incident, according to MSC.

“By deploying 4×4 vehicles, tractors and specialist
equipment such as a beach vacuum-cleaners the response operation has achieved
significant progress on the Frisian islands of Terschelling, Vlieland, Ameland
and Schiermonnikoog, in the Wadden Sea and on the mainland,” the company
said in the latest update.

The company has hired Ardent Global to coordinate the search
at the sea. As informed, sonar-assisted search has helped locate hundreds
of objects in the water in recent days and these contacts are being evaluated
by MSC’s contractors and the authorities. So far, 21 entire containers were
washed up.

Overall, relevant authorities and MSC have located 238 containers so far, with the majority
being spread over a length of 23 miles above the Dutch municipalities
Terschelling, Schiermonnikoog and east of this line.

Recovery of containers from the sea

Dutch public works and water management
department Rijkswaterstaat is working with relevant counterparts on a
salvage plan of the spilled containers, which should be launched soon. However,
the complex, large-scale operation aimed at salvaging the containers at sea
depends upon a number of conditions, including weather, tide, shipping traffic
in the busy waterway and visibility.

Two broken containers were salvaged on January 7, and there
are over 40 yet to be located.

A total of 291 containers were thrown overboard by bad
weather from MSC Zoe, according to the latest deck inspection data cited by Rijkswaterstaat.
The containers added to the overall tally do not contain hazardous substances,
based on the latest update.

Bad weather

Inclement weather is hampering the clean up operations and
sonar operations scheduled for today had to be suspended pending improved
weather conditions.

“This week, a storm is impacting the area being cleaned and
unfortunately this will interrupt some operations. Response teams nonetheless
remain vigilant and are proactively monitoring for any subsequent recharging of
beaches with materials from MSC Zoe, as a result of the weather and sea
movements,” MSC said.

SMART containers

Commenting on the incident, environmental organization
Greenpeace, whose members have also taken part in the cleanup efforts, called
on the mandatory introduction of real-time locating systems for containers
transporting dangerous goods on European shipping lanes.

The call was made as it was determined that at
least two of the fallen containers from MSC boxship contained hazardous
substances, including dibenzoyl peroxide as well as dicyclohexyl phthalate,
according to Greenpeace.

Viola Wohlgemuth, chemical expert from Greenpeace, pointed
out that the technology is available, as SMART containers allow for the
cargo to be located more easily at sea in case of loss.

“MSC is at the forefront of developments in the
smart-containerisation of our industry and is increasingly offering smart container
solutions to interested customers. However, to date, only a small proportion of
the shipping industry’s global container fleet is equipped with real-time
tracking devices. More research is needed to find a system that will work under
a range of conditions both out of the water and in the water,” a MSC
spokesperson told World Maritime News in a statement on the matter.

In the meantime, Last weekend, more than a dozen passengers
waiting to board an electronic dance music (EDM) cruise were arrested in Port
Canaveral for alleged possession of illicit drugs. The Brevard County Sheriff’s
Office, U.S. Customs and Border Patrol and Port Canaveral conducted inspections
prior to boarding, using drug-sniffing dogs, luggage searches and other methods
to detect illicit substances, resulting in multiple arrests.

The majority of the suspects received misdemeanor possession
and drug paraphernalia charges. Two individuals were charged with trafficking
for alleged possession of larger quantities of MDMA.

It is the second year in a row that law enforcement
personnel have made large numbers of drug-related arrests before Holy
Ship! EDM cruise events. In 2018, police detained about four dozen Holy Ship!
passengers from two back-to-back cruises on suspicion of drug possession,
including multiple individuals who were accused of intending to sell
drugs on board.

Compared to the general population, rave attendees self-report significantly higher use rates for MDMA, ketamine and other psychoactive substances. Drugs associated with raves (notably MDMA and PMMA) have also been linked to fatalities, and EDM festivals have occasionally been canceled after drug-related deaths: in 2016, the city of Buenos Aires banned large EDM concerts altogether after five club-goers died of suspected overdoses.

Strict enforcement

In years past, a limited number of attendees for the Holy Ship! cruise have posted advice on social media forums about the best ways to smuggle banned substances onto the ship, including MDMA and marijuana. The event’s organizer discourages these discussions, and in the past it has blacklisted attendees for participating in them.

Prior to this year’s cruises, organizers posted an advisory
warning about the strict security measures in force at the terminal.
“Forget about your right to privacy, you are passing through a port where
all local and federal laws apply and are strictly enforced,” the
organizer’s site cautioned. “Every person and each piece of luggage will
be inspected by dogs trained to detect explosives and contraband.”

In a statement, vessel operator Norwegian Cruise Lines
emphasized that it does not permit illicit substances on board.

“We have a zero tolerance policy when it comes to prohibited items aboard our ships, within our terminals, or at our destinations,” NCL said. “Along with the organizers of the event, we are cooperating fully with local law enforcement to ensure the welfare of all guests attending the festival.”

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